John Butler was born on April 1, 1975 in Torrance, California, to an Australian father and American mother. He moved to the small Western Australian town of Pinjarra in January 1986, when he was eleven. Butler began playing guitar at the age of sixteen, and by 1996 started his career as a busker in Fremantle, Western Australia. The John Butler Trio was formed in 1998 when Butler was joined by Gavin Shoesmith on bass and Jason McGann on drums, and by the end of that year had recorded their debut album John Butler.
They then released Three in 2001, Sunrise Over Sea in 2004 and Grand National in 2007, all of which were certified platinum.
In June 2009, a new line up of the ever evolving John Butler Trio emerged. Prominent Melbourne musician Nicky Bomba of Bomba fame and principal drummer on Sunrise Over Sea joined the band on drums and percussion, as did bass player Byron Luiters from Sydney outfit Ray Mann Three.
The latest album entitled April Uprising came from a journey John Butler undertook for the ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ TV series. He traces the Butler name through generations of hardship to a matriarch who sang for her survival and follows his Bulgarian ancestry to a forebear caught up in a violent revolt called the April Uprising. The recording process for the new album was shared with avid followers via a special studio sessions page on the band’s website.
John Butler comments on the forthcoming new album,
“The whole rehearsal and recording process so far has been a lot of fun and very gratifying. I feel the sounds and general spirit and energy of this album are best summed up in the words – free, melodic, funky, phat and rocking. There’s definitely a certain attitude that comes across on the album. Perhaps there’s a conviction, in a song writing and production sense, that I haven’t tapped into so much on earlier works that seems to be more prevalent on April Uprising. There’s chemistry and language that Nicky, Byron and I have found that really compliments these songs in all their different facets”.
Inspiration
The John Butler Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down South
Where I feel a little better about myself
Gonna find some inspiration real soon
Mother Earth and I'm gonna find a way
Cos I'm riding through this valley all the way, yeah, on my own
Gonna learn to, say, live by myself, I'm gonna learn to be alone
And I've forgotten who I really was, I forgot about me
Gonna find some inspiration
Gonna take it real slow
No pressure on myself
I'm gonna go with the flow
Cos it seems like the only person I can't escape from is me
So I'm gonna open these old eyes, I'm gonna open them up and see
Cos I'm riding through this valley all the way, yeah, on my own
Gonna learn to, say, live by myself, I'm gonna learn to be alone
Cos it seems like the only person I dont know is me
So I'm gonna open these old eyes, I'm gonna open them up and see
Hey, I'm commin' home
Hey, I'm commin' home
The John Butler Trio's song "Inspiration" is about finding oneself and gaining inspiration by taking a journey to the South. The opening lines "I'm going way down, Down South, where I feel a little better about myself" suggest a sense of needing to escape to a place where the singer feels more in touch with themselves. It is a journey of self-discovery where the singer hopes to find inspiration from Mother Earth.
The second verse highlights the need to break free from the past and live independently. "Gonna learn to say, live by myself, I'm gonna learn to be alone, 'cos I've chained myself to someone's hip, so long, now, I can't see" indicates the singer's dependency on others in the past that has caused them to forget who they really are. The singer believes that finding inspiration is the key to unlock their true self.
The chorus is a repetition of the need to find inspiration, the importance of taking things slow, and the desire to escape from oneself. The final lines, "Hey, I'm coming home," suggest a sense of renewal, as if the journey has brought the singer back to themselves.
Overall, the song is a poetic and introspective reflection on the importance of finding inspiration and learning to be true to oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm going way down
I'm embarking on a journey of self-discovery.
Down South
The destination for the journey is in the southern part of the country.
Where I feel a little better about myself
The journey is to a place where the singer feels happier and more comfortable.
Gonna find some inspiration real soon
The singer expects to find inspiration on this journey.
Mother Earth and I'm gonna find a way
The singer intends to connect with nature to find guidance and direction.
Cos I'm riding through this valley all the way, yeah, on my own
The journey is a solitary one, with the singer relying only on themselves.
Gonna learn to, say, live by myself, I'm gonna learn to be alone
The singer recognizes the need to be self-sufficient and comfortable being alone.
Cos I've chained myself to someone's hip, so long, now, I can't see
The singer has been too dependent on someone else and has lost sight of their own identity.
And I've forgotten who I really was, I forgot about me
The singer has lost touch with their true self and needs to rediscover their identity.
Gonna find some inspiration
The singer is emphasizing their commitment to discovering inspiration.
Gonna take it real slow
The singer is embracing a slower pace of life to fully indulge in their journey.
No pressure on myself
The singer is releasing any self-imposed pressure to succeed quickly or accomplish everything at once.
I'm gonna go with the flow
The singer is adopting a more relaxed and flexible approach to living.
Cos it seems like the only person I can't escape from is me
The singer recognizes that they cannot run away from themselves and their issues, and must face them head-on.
So I'm gonna open these old eyes, I'm gonna open them up and see
The singer is ready to see the world and themselves in a new light.
Hey, I'm commin' home
The singer has found a sense of peace, contentment, and belonging after their journey of self-discovery.
Contributed by Maria D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.